Decorator panels drive Hamilton’s product development programme

Published: 27 January, 2014

The latest in a regular series of professional decorator panels used by Hamilton in its decorator-led research and development (R&D) programme has met again to continue the development and testing of new products.

The decorator panel concept has already influenced the launch of the company’s new Perfection, Prestige and Performance ranges and tested Hamilton’s new synthetic brushes throughout their development.

This panel also compared both synthetic brushes with pure bristle brushes for coverage, spread and finish when applying solvent-based paints, as well as testing a selection of roller sleeves for both coverage and fibre retention.

Ten decorators from all over the UK participated in brainstorming and practical testing of new Hamilton products and the latest prototypes. The panel took place at Construction Training Specialists in Norwich.

The delegates were a mix of male and female and domestic and commercial decorators and were representative of a range of ages and levels of experience in the trade. The quarterly panel combines regular attendees for continuity of product development with new members every quarter to ensure the widest possible range of opinions and input. Mark Davies, technical manager at Hamilton, led the panel with product development representatives from Hamilton’s Scandinavian R&D facility also in attendance.

Working closely with Hamilton, Paul Marsden, a technical consultant at Crown Paints, delivered an insight into the future of solvent-based paints while providing delegates with practical advice. Panel members were also given the opportunity to provide Mr Marsden with valuable feedback as they twinned the testing of Hamilton products with Crown Next Generation Gloss.

The contribution made by the decorator panel to Hamilton’s product development over the last three years was nowhere better evidenced than in the creation of the new Hamilton Perfection Synthetic brush.

Panel members in the latest group who had been the first to condemn the company’s original synthetic filament products now pronounced the new products the best of their kind. A selection of delegates were even of the opinion that Hamilton synthetic brushes could soon dominate the market.

Closing the decorator panel, Mr Davies handed panel members a selection of pure bristle and synthetic brushes to take away and use as part of an extensive three-month field trial. The results of which are due to be discussed at the next meeting.